Services for Dean H. Phillips, 85, will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC, with burial to follow in St. Andrews Lutheran Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, December 3, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home , Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel. Memorials may be made to St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 1416 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210 or the Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46222.

Mr. Phillips passed away on Friday, November 30, 2012. Born in Indianapolis, IN, he was the son of the late Homer E. and Julie E. Dean Phillips. He was a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church (Columbia, SC). "Dean" served as Executive Director of the Indiana Convention Center and Hoosier Dome for 20 years, and was certified as a "Certified Facilities Executive" during this time. He was a member of the International Association of Auditorium Managers (IAAM) where he served as President and was recipient of the Charles A. McElravy Award, IAAM's highest honor for service to the industry. He was Chairman of the Convention Liaison Council in 1988. In addition, Dean was inducted into the Convention Liaison Council Hall of Leaders in Washington, DC "in honor of his pioneering the successful merging of community interest with public facilities and for his facility management leadership in the design and operation of convention centers, arenas and domed stadiums". He was also a member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives serving one year as president, the American Society of Association Executives. Later in his career, Phillips was co-founder and Chairman of International Facility Development Corporation, a worldwide venue consulting firm." He was a Life Board Member of the Indianapolis Zoo, was a "Director" for about six years as a member of the Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee, and an early supporter of the Eiteljorg Museum of Indian and Western Art.

Early in his career, he managed the Ft. Wayne (Indiana) Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1965 to 1969, and it was during his last year with the Convention Bureau he helped found Ft. Wayne's "Three Rivers Festival", and was a member of the Ft. Wayne Zoological Society. He had been a member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives, the National Association of Exposition Managers, and the Trade Show Bureau. He was given the rank and title of "Sagamore of the Wabash" by the Governor of the State of Indiana, was commissioned an "Honorary Citizen of the State of Texas and a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Phillips graduated from Indiana University and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He graduated from Howe (Indianapolis) High School, and achieved the rank of Sergeant-Major in the U. S. Army. A memorial service will be held in Carmel, Indiana at a later date.

Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lillie B. "Dak" Phillips of Chapin; son, Bret (Lisa) Phillips of Spartanburg and 2 grandchildren, Austin Phillips of Crawfordsville, IN and Hope Phillips of Spartanburg. He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry E. Phillips.